On his return to Japan in 1922, Yamashita served in the Imperial Headquarters and the Staff College. While posted to the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, Yamashita unsuccessfully promoted a military reduction plan. Despite his ability, Yamashita fell into disfavor as a result of his involvement with political factions within the Japanese military. As a leading member of the "Imperial Way" group, he became a rival to Hideki Tojo and other members of the "Control Faction".

In 1928, Yamashita was posted to Vienna, Austria as the military attaché. In 1930, Colonel Yamashita was given command of the 3rd Imperial Infantry Regiment, one of the most elite in the Japanese army.

Early war years

Yamashita insisted that Japan should end the conflict with China and keep peaceful relations with the United States and Great Britain, but he was ignored and subsequently assigned to an unimportant post in the Kwantung Army. From 1938 to 1940, he was assigned to command the IJA 4th Division which saw some action in northern China against Chinese insurgents fighting the occupying Japanese armies.

Malaya and Singapore

Lt Gen Yamashita Tomoyuki (seated, centre) thumps the table with his fist to emphasise his demand for unconditional surrender. Lt Gen Percival sits between his officers, his clenched hand to his mouth (Photo from Imperial War Museum).

The campaign and the subsequent Japanese occupation of Singapore included war crimes committed against captive Allied personnel and civilians, such as the Alexandra Hospital and Sook Ching Massacres. Yamashita's culpability for these events remains a matter of controversy, as some argued that he had failed to prevent them. However, Yamashita had the officer who instigated the hospital massacre and some soldiers caught looting executed for these acts, and he personally apologised to the surviving patients.[1]

Manchuria

On 17 July 1942, Yamashita was reassigned from Singapore to far-away Manchukuo, again having been given a post in commanding the Japanese First Army, and was effectively sidelined for a major part of the Pacific War.

It is thought that Prime MinisterHideki Tōjō was responsible for his banishment, taking advantage of Yamashita's gaffe during a speech made to Singaporeancivilian leaders in early 1942, when he referred to the local populace as "citizens of the Empire of Japan". This was considered embarrassing for the Japanese government, who officially did not consider the residents of occupied territories to have the rights or privileges of Japanese citizenship.

Yamashita commanded approximately 262,000 troops in three defensive groups; the largest, the Shobo Group, under his personal command numberd 152,000 troops, which defended northern Luzon. the smallest group, totaling 30,000 troops, known as the Kembu Group under the command of Tsukada, defended Bataan and the western shores. The last group, the Shimbu Group, totaling 80,000 men under the command of Yokoyama, defended Manila and southern Luzon. Yamashita tried to rebuild his army but was forced to retreat from Manila to the Sierra Madre mountains of northern Luzon, as well as the Cordillera Central mountains. Yamashita ordered all troops, except those tasked with security, out of the city.

Almost immediately, Rear Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi re-occupied Manila with 16,000 sailors, with the intent of destroying all port facilities and naval storehouses. Once there, Iwabuchi took command of the 3,750 Army security troops, and against Yamashita's specific order, turned the city into a battlefield.[2] The actions of the Japanese garrison resulted in the deaths of more than 100,000 Filipino civilians, in what would be later known as the Manila Massacre, during the fierce street fighting for the capital which raged from 4 February to 3 March.

Yamashita used delaying tactics to maintain his army in Kiangan (part of the Ifugao Province), until 2 September 1945, after the surrender of Japan, where his forces were reduced to under 50,000 by the tough campaigning by elements of the combined American and Filipino soldiers including the recognized guerrillas. Yamashita surrendered in the presence of Generals Jonathan Wainwright and Arthur Percival, both of whom had been prisoners of war in Manchuria. Ironically, Percival had surrendered to Yamashita after the Battle of Singapore. This time, however, Percival refused to shake Yamashita's hand, being angered by the exterminationist tactics that Yamashita had allegedly employed against Allied POWs, so Yamashita burst into tears. Although Yamashita might have been expected to commit suicide prior to this surrender, he reportedly explained his decision not to kill himself by saying that if he did "someone else will have to take the blame." [3]

Trial

General Yamashita Tomoyuki (second from right) at his trial in Manila, November 1945

From 29 October to 7 December 1945, an American military tribunal in Manila tried General Yamashita for war crimes relating to the Manila Massacre and many atrocities in the Philippines and Singapore against civilians and prisoners of war, such as the Sook Ching, and sentenced him to death. This controversial case has become a precedent regarding the command responsibility for war crimes and is known as the Yamashita Standard.

The trial was not without criticism. The commission of five officers lacked combat experience and formal legal training, and the defense counsel complained they were given insufficient time in which to prepare their case. With many Filipinos perhaps understandably anxious to make Yamashita pay for their sufferings during the Japanese occupation, the intensely emotional atmosphere of the trial rendered it extremely difficult for the court to judge the case objectively. The court admitted hearsay evidence, unnamed witnesses, and other forms of evidence which the defense could not reasonably challenge.[4] Because the well-known Yamashita was the first Japanese to be tried by the Allies for war crimes, MacArthur wanted a swift trial and a guilty verdict to establish a precedent for the approaching trials in Tokyo and elsewhere in the Far East.

In dissenting from the United States Supreme Court's majority, Justice W.B. Rutledge wrote:[4]

“

More is at stake than General Yamashita's fate. There could be no possible sympathy for him if he is guilty of the atrocities for which his death is sought. But there can be and should be justice administered according to the law... It is not too early, it is never too early, for the nation steadfastly to follow its great constitutional traditions, none older or more universally protective against unbridled power than due process of law in the trial and punishment of men, that is, of all men, whether citizens, aliens, alien enemies or enemy belligerents.

”

The principal accusation against Yamashita was that he had failed in his duty as commander of Japanese forces in the Philippines to prevent them from committing brutal atrocities. The defense acknowledged that atrocities had been committed but contended that the breakdown of communications and the Japanese chain of command in the chaotic battle of the second Philippines campaign was such that Yamashita could not have controlled his troops even if he had known of their actions, which was not certain in any case. Furthermore, many of the atrocities had been committed by Japanese naval forces outside his command.

During his trial, the defense attorneys who challenged Douglas MacArthur deeply impressed General Yamashita with their dedication to the case, and reaffirmed his respect for his former enemies. American lawyer Harry E. Clarke, Sr., then a U.S. Army colonel, served as chief counsel for the defense. In his opening statement, Clarke asserted:

“

The Accused is not charged with having done something or having failed to do something, but solely with having been something….American jurisprudence recognizes no such principle so far as its own military personnel are concerned….No one would even suggest that the Commanding General of an American occupational force becomes a criminal every time an American soldier violates the law…one man is not held to answer for the crime of another.

”

The court found Yamashita guilty as charged and sentenced him to death. Clarke appealed the sentence to MacArthur, who upheld it. He then appealed to the Philippines Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court, both of which declined to review the verdict. As a consequence, Yamashita was executed on 23 February 1946.

The legitimacy of the hasty trial was questioned by many at the time, including Justice Murphy, who protested various procedural issues, the inclusion of hearsay evidence, and the general lack of professional conduct by the prosecuting officers. (In re Yamashita327 U.S. 1 (1946).[5] The considerable body of evidence that Yamashita did not have ultimate command responsibility over all military units in the Philippines was not admitted in court.[6])

Execution

Following the Supreme Court decision, an appeal for clemency was made to U.S. President Harry S. Truman; Truman, however, declined to intervene and left the matter entirely in the hands of the military authorities. In due course, General MacArthur issued a statement reaffirming the sentence of the Commission.

On 23 February 1946, at Los Banos Prison Camp, 30 miles (48 km) south of Manila, Tomoyuki Yamashita was hanged. After climbing the gallows, he was asked whether he had a final statement. Yamashita replied through a translator:

“

As I said in the Manila Supreme Court that I have done with my all capacity, so I don't ashame in front of the gods for what I have done when I have died. But if you say to me 'you do not have any ability to command the Japanese Army' I should say nothing for it, because it is my own nature. Now, our war criminal trial going on in Manila Supreme Court, so I wish to be justify under your kindness and right. I know that all your American and American military affairs always has tolerant and rightful judgment. When I have been investigated in Manila court I have had a good treatment, kindful attitude from your good natured officers who all the time protect me. I never forget for what they have done for me even if I had died. I don't blame my executioner. I'll pray the gods bless them. Please send my thankful word to Col. Clarke and Lt. Col. Feldhaus, Lt. Col. Hendrix, Maj. Guy, Capt. Sandburg, Capt. Reel, at Manila court, and Col. Arnard. I thank you.

From Wikiquote

I was carrying out my duty, as the Japanese high commander of the
Japanese Army in the Philippine Islands, to control my army with
the best of my ability during wartime. Until now, I believe that I
have tried my best for my army.

Tomoyuki Yamashita (November 8, 1885 – February 23, 1946) was a general of the
Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. He was most famous for
conquering the British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, earning
the nickname "Tiger of Malaya." An American military tribunal tried
General Yamashita for war crimes relating to the Manila Massacre
and sentenced him to death. This case has become a precedent
regarding the command
responsibility for war crimes and is known as the Yamashita
Standard. Yamashita was hanged on February 23, 1946, at Los Baños
Prison Camp. His chief of staff in the Philippines, Akira Mutō, was executed on December 1948
after having been found guilty of war crimes by the International
Military Tribunal for the Far East.

Sourced

I was carrying out my duty, as the Japanese high commander of
the Japanese Army in the Philippine Islands, to control my army
with the best of my ability during wartime. Until now, I believe
that I have tried my best for my army. As I said in the Manila
Supreme Court that I have done everything with all my capacity, so
I wouldn't be ashamed in front of the Gods for what I have done
when I have died. But if you say to me "you do not have any ability
to command the Japanese Army," I should say nothing in response,
because it is my own nature. Now, our war criminal trial is going
on in the Manila Supreme Court, so I wish to be justified under
your kindness and righteousness. I know that all your American
military affairs always have had tolerant and rightful judgment.
When I had been investigated in the Manila court, I have had good
treatment, a kind attitude from your good-natured officers who
protected me all the time. I will never forget what they have done
for me even if I die. I don't blame my executioners. I'll pray that
the Gods bless them. Please send my thankful word to Col. Clarke
and Lt. Col. Feldhaus, Lt. Col. Hendrix, Maj. Guy, Capt. Sandburg,
Capt. Reel, at Manila court, and Col. Arnard. I thank you. I pray
for the Emperor's long life and prosperity forever.